willmott



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

W. W. WILLMOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND HENRYF. GARDNER, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT-TREE.

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 20,185, dated May 4, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM W. WILL- Mo'rr, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Tree orMachine for Treeing or Stretching Boots; and I do hereby declare thatthe same is fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l denotesa side elevation of the said boot-tree; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectionof it taken in a plane running through the straining shaft and the toeof the machine. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through thestraining shaft and in a plane at rightangles to that which is exhibitedin Fig. 2. Fig. 4t is a top view of the regulator and the front and backparts of the leg portion of the mechanism.

In such drawings, A, and B, represent the front and back portions of theleg part ot' the boot tree, while C, denotes the foot partthis latterportion being connected to the part A, by a dovetail a, and by a screwshown at b, or by any other suitable devices.

The front and back portions A and B, may be constructed of metal orother proper material, hollowed out to receive and allow to operate themechanism by which they are to be pressed asunder or drawn together, ascircumstances may require.

The leg parts A, B, are connected by two sets of toggle joints D, D, andE, E, arranged so as to stand in opposite directions with respect toeach other as shown in the drawings. Each set of toggle joints has its-two toggles jointed to a female screw nut F, or Gr, through which along stretching rod H, extends and carries two male screws c, d, havingtheir threads running in reverse of one another and respectivelyengaging with the nuts F, and G. The rod H, in other respects is to beentirely disconnected from the parts A, B, that is, while the rod iscapable of being revolved on its axis, it is to be left free to be movedlongitudinally and should not be restrained in such movement by anycollars, shoulders or devices of like nature. Furthermore, the said rodeX- tends through two cross bars or supporters I, K, which are sodisconnected from the two leg parts A, B, as to be capable of beingmoved laterally, independent of either of such parts A, B. To thesesupporters I, K, the lappers or covering plates L, M, (see Figs. l and3) are affixed, such plates not being directly fastened to either of theparts A, B. Furthermore, a latch or catch N, is hinged to the upper endof the front portion A, of the leg of the boot-tree and operates inconnection with a series of holes e, e, e, made in the upper end of theback part B, as shown in Fig. 4, the whole being denominated theregulator, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The stretching rod carries, at its upper end, a hand wheel O, by meansof which it may be either turned in one direction or the other ascircumstances may require.

To the lower end of the front portion A, I aiiX a staple P, the samebeing formed as shown in underside view in Fig. 5. Through such staple ahook R (formed as shown in section in Fig. 2) is passed, such hook beingsecured to the back portion B, by a screw f, or in any other suitablemanner.

By means of the above described improved mode of applying the screws,stretching rod and toggles together and to the back and front portionsA, B, of the leg of a boot-tree I am enabled to effect importantadvantages, the purpose of such application being to attain such. In ther'st place, it insures an equalization of strain and the correctadjustment and adaptation of the parts A, and B, to a boot-leg when suchleg is being stretched, for should the two parts A, and B, while beingforced asunder be brought to a bearing at the top of a boot leg themotion of the upper will be arrested; that, however, of the lower setwill be continued until the lower portions of the parts A, B, are alsobrought to a bearing, the screw rod continuing to pass through thestationary screw nut of the upper toggles while it may be actuating thelower toggles. As soon as the bearing is equalized both at top andbottom of the boot leg both sets of toggles will operate alike inproducing further strain, so in case the lower portions of the parts A,B, are brought to a bearing within the boot leg before the upperportions of the said parts A, B, are pressed close up against theleather the lower toggles will remain stationary and the upper togglesbe continued in movement until the bearing is complete throughout theentire leg of the boot. The regulator aii'ords a means of stretching theboot leg just above the instep, provided it may not be desirable tostretch it at the saine time in the upper part. In order to do this, thelatch of the regulator is to be turned downrinto either' of the holes e,e, e, and when therein it will prevent the further separation of theupper ends of the parts A, B, their lower ends being free to be movedasunder by the operations of the toggles, the screws and stretching rod.

By connecting the lower ends or other proper parts of the two portionsA, B, by a staple and hook, as described, they are prevented fromfalling asunder, as well as from moving out ofV place endwise while thestretching mechanism may be in operation. It is important that theyshould be so connected in order that they may maintain their properrelative positions. y

The mode of supporting the lapping plates L, M, is peculiarlyadvantageous over that generally practiced, viz., to fasten them byscrews to the front part A of the boot leg while it is being stretched,and therefore either of the parts A, B, may be moved with less frictionthan would be theV case were the lapping plate to be fastened to it.Furthermore, the mode of sustaining the lapping plates causes them tooperate to better advantage at or near the heel of the boot tree thanwhen they may be conflned to the front portion A.

What I claim as an improvement in the application of the screws, the rodand toggles (or mechanical equivalents) to the front and back portionsA, B, of the leg of a boottree is- 1. The arrangement of the two sets oftoggles as shown in the drawings and the application thereto of thescrew rod H in such manner that it may be free to move longitudinallyduring its rotary motions on its axis, the same being for the purpose asspecified. v

2. I also claim combining the regulator or latching mechanism N, c, e,(or their equivalent) with the back and front parts A, B, of the legportion of the boot-tree and the separating mechanism applied theretoand made to operate therewith substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

IVILLIAM W. WILLMOT'I.

Witnesses:

B. I-I. EDDY, F. P. HALE, J r.

